where did that thread go?

in relation to feeding/bedding.. i fed caution in his enclosure this last time and he ahd a big peice of aspen stuck in his mouth like a big toothpick, he did swallow it!!! i didnt want to try to take it out for fear he would
a: regurgitate
b: bite me
c: puncture something
d: any other horrible possibility

what should one do?!

I saw that thread, just didn't have any advice to give as I only use newspaper substrate. I probably would have tried to remove the stick myself, but I have no idea if that would be the right thing to do.

is he acting funny? like opening his jaws to realign them and what not.

can you even see it?

if not I wouldn't try to pry in his mouth.

could cause more stress.

Shredded aspen tends to be pretty soft, relatively speaking. Even a piece that looks "toothpicky" will likely bend and fold easily. The snake's digestive system is created in such a way that it can break down and disolve hair, fur, feathers, bone, cartilege, etc. A little piece of aspen doesn't stand a chance in there. ;)

That being said...if I saw a snake in the process of swallowing a meal and a large piece of wood was caught along with the prey...I'd probably reach in and try to pull it out while the snake was still swallowing....but only with a very gentle tug to see if it would slide out. I wouldn't force anything. Once they've bitten and constricted the prey...they are usually in a sort of reflex-driven trance until the prey is swallowed and will not be bothered by a gentle intervention at that time.

Hope that helps some. If you think the piece is still stuck in his mouth, then I'd recommend finding either a vet or an experienced snake keeper in your area to help fish it out.

after a little while he had everything down fine.. i was just wondering what to do next time, i was just very worried something horrible would happen to him

I had just fed Timber yesterday and he took down a piece or two of aspen shaving as well. They're not the toothpicky kind but when my girlfriend had noticed it for me, I just said it's okay because I had also remembered reading something along the lines of what Judy said so I really wasn't too worried, and I don't think you should be either unless he starts behaving strangly which probably won't happen.